(1). In ancient times, there was a monster named Xi, who had long tentacles on his head and was fierce. It often devours livestock and harms people's lives. People in the village helped the old and young people escape the harm of Xi.

On New Year's Eve this year, people in Taohua Village are taking refuge in the mountains. At this moment, a child came from outside the village. I saw the child with heavy eyebrows and big eyes, which was very beautiful. When the child came to the east of the village, he met an old woman and asked why everyone was panicking.

The old woman had no choice but to tell the child that Xi was making trouble again. The child smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, my name is Nian. Let me stay at home for one night, and I will definitely drive away the beast' Xi'. " After the old woman agreed, she took refuge in the mountain. At midnight, "Xi" broke into the village and found the old woman's house in the east of the village, with red paper on the door and candles lit in it.

At dusk, the beast trembled and let out a long whistle. Glaring at her mother-in-law's house for a while, she immediately screamed and rushed over. When she approached the door, there was a sudden explosion in the hospital. Xi trembled and dared not go any further. It turns out that Xi is most afraid of red, fire and explosion. At this time, my mother-in-law's door was open, and I saw a young man in a red robe laughing in the hospital.

"Xi" was frightened to disgrace and fled in confusion. The next day, the people who came back from refuge were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. At this time, the old woman suddenly realized and quickly told the villagers the promise of the year. The story soon spread in the surrounding villages, and people knew the way to drive away the "Xi" beast.

To this end, everyone goes to pay New Year greetings, which is now "New Year greetings" (the origin of New Year greetings), and posts pictures of the year at the door or in front of the window, which is called New Year pictures (the big fat boy in the picture of the year is the year). The day excluding the evening is called New Year's Eve.

(2) The New Year's Eve Festival evolved from the pre-Qin period.

The so-called "banishment from the army" means that the ancients used drums to drive out the "epidemic ghosts" on the day before the New Year. According to the textual research of Lu Chunqiu and Dong Jiji, "banishment from the army" is the origin of the "New Year's Eve" festival.

2. New Year's Eve should be the earliest history books such as Local Records written in the Western Jin Dynasty and early Zhou Dynasty.